Oeder GEALL^.] 
[Fam. EALLIDJ5. 
CABALUS DIEFFENBAGHIL 
(DIEPFENBACH’S RAIL.) 
liallus dieffenhacMi, Gray in DiefF. Trav. ii., App. p. 197 (1843). 
Ocydromus dieffenhachii. Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 14, pi. 15 (1844). 
llyjjotcenidia dieffenhachi, Bonap. C. R. xliii, p. 599 (1856). 
Hypotxnidia dieffenhachii, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 238. 
Rallus dieffenhachii, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 179 (1873). 
Native name. — Moeriki. 
Ad. supra brunnescenti-olivaceus, ochraceo et nigricante irregulariter transversim fasciatus : dorso postico et uro- 
pygio olivascenti-brunneis, supracaudalibus aureo-fulvo transfasciatis : pileo summo brunneo unicolore : 
striga long^ superciliari, genis et guttm’e toto cinereis : striga alteiA a basi maxillae per oculum ducta 
brunnesceuti-castaue^ : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : remigibus castaneis, nigro transnotatis, 
A^ersus apicem brunnesceiitibus, secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus, fulvo notatis : rectricibus olivascenti- 
brunneis, unicoloribus : collo lateral! inferiore et pectore supei’iore nigris albido transfasciatis : pectore 
fulvescenti-ocbraceo, nigro transfasciato : corpore reliquo subtus nigro, albo transversim lineato : sub- 
caudalibus latius fulvo transfasciatis : rostro brunneo, versus basin saturatiore : pedibus pallide brunneis : 
iride rufescenti-brunnea. 
Adult. Crown and nape dark rusty brown; sides of the head and the whole of the throat pale ash-grey, the 
former traversed by a broad band of rnsty brown, which, commencing at the base of the upper mandible, 
passes across and under the eyes and thence downwards, changing on the ear-coverts to chestnut, and meeting 
in a broad band of that colour on the lower part of the hind neck; towards the base of the lower mandible, 
and a streak over the eyes, greyish white ; on the fore neck a zone of black with rayed lines of white, 
bordering the ash-grey, and widening out on the sides into a rounded patch ; neck beyond and the whole of 
the breast bright rufous browm, with narrow transverse bands of black ; shoulders and all the upper part of 
the back fulvous brown varied with black, beautifully barred and spotted with pale rnfous brown ; lower 
part of back and rump dark fulvous browm, plumbeous beneath ; underparts black, handsomely fasciated 
with white on the upper part of the abdomen, sides of the body and flanks, less distinctly so and tipped with 
fulvous on the lower part of abdomen and soft ventral feathers ; under tail-coverts black, broadly barred 
with rufous brown ; primaries bright chestnut, with numerous transverse bars of brownish black and tipped 
with olive-brown; secondaries much browner, with the chestnut considerably diminished and assuming the 
form of broad toothed markings on both vanes ; w’ing-coverts similar to the plumage of the back, but largely 
tinged with ehestnut ; tail-feathers dark rusty brown, with rufous margins in their basal portion. Examined 
individually, the feathers of the back arc blackish brown, crossed by two broad undulating bauds of fulvous ; 
those of the breast have the bands broader and more regular ; those covering the abdomen and sides of the 
body arc black, with two equidistant bars and a narrow terminal margin of white. Irides reddish brown ; 
bill light brown, darker towards the tip ; tarsi and toes light brown. Total length 12‘25 inches ; wing, from 
flexure, 4-75 ; tail 3’25 ; bill, along the ridge 1'45, along the edge of low'er mandible 1’5 ; tarsus 1-5 ; middle 
toe and claw 1‘75 ; hind toe and claw '6. 
This beautiful Rail Avas brought from the Chatham Islands by Dr. Dieffenbach in 1842, and named 
by Mr. Gray in compliment to this enterprising naturalist. The adult specimen in the British 
Museum, from which my description was taken, is unique, and seems likely to remain so. 
VOL. II. 
K 
